UPMC Doctors Say Hospitalizations Are Rising, But New Cases Aren't As Severe
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - Doctors at UPMC gave an update on the Pittsburgh area's recent surge of new coronavirus cases.
They say hospitalizations are up, with 118 COVID patients being cared for at UPMC hospitals right now. Most of those patients are over 60 years old.
But UPMC leaders say the cases aren't as severe now.
"Despite the fact that hospitalizations are only accounting for a little more than 2 percent of our patient population, it's telling that the intensity of the disease that we've seen in our hospitalized patients is not matching that," said Medical Director of Infection Prevention Dr. Graham Snyder.
In Allegheny County, leaders say younger people are coming back from vacations to coronavirus hotspots were spreading the virus in bars.
RELATED STORIES:
- Allegheny Co. Issues New 2-Week Order Allowing Dining And Limited Drinking Outside
- Allegheny Co. Restaurants Prepare For New Guidance As Coronavirus Numbers Continue To Climb
- Allegheny Co. Health Dept. Confirms Another Day With Over 200 More Coronavirus Cases, And 6 New Deaths
- 'Very Concerned': Allegheny Co. Executive Rich Fitzgerald Speaks On New Coronavirus Case Numbers Still In Triple Digits
- Contact Tracing Efforts Continue To Increase In Allegheny County As Coronavirus Cases Surge
- 'We're Just Hopeful That People Get The Message': Allegheny County Hopes New Measures Will Stem Coronavirus Spike
- 6 Cases Of Coronavirus Reported In Allegheny Co. Court System Employees
- 'This is What Happens When People Don't Follow The Rules'; July 4th Plans In Allegheny Co. Put On Hold As Coronavirus Cases
- Continue To Rise
- Allegheny Co. Health Dept.: Coronavirus Surge Continues To Come From Younger People Traveling And Going Out
"Despite more people testing positive, often younger people, we are not seeing the same pattern of increase in severe cases and I believe we can keep it that way, if we focus our efforts on protecting the frail, the elderly and other vulnerable. And that means all of us doing it all the time," says Senior Medical Director, Chair of Emergency Medicine Dr. Donald Yealy.
Doctors stressed the importance of always wearing masks in public and social distancing.
And to meet the increased demand for testing, UPMC is adding drive-thru testing to its South Side location.
More information on the Coronavirus pandemic: